Manhattan commission accepts easements for Acacia replat amid neighborhood objections

The Manhattan City Commission voted 3–0, with one recusal, on Aug. 19 to accept easements shown on a replat for properties associated with the Acacia fraternity, advancing the technical subdivision action after more than an hour of staff explanation and public comment. Mayor McCullough and Commissioners Opelt and Minton voted yes; Commissioner Adamtack recused herself because her family owns property on Hunting Avenue. The vote approved acceptance of the easements — described in the staff report as an access easement and a drainage easement, with possible existing utility easements carried from the prior plat — while the planning board had approved the final plat 6–0 the night before. That planning-board approval means the planning board found the replat to comply with the Manhattan Development Code's subdivision regulations; final acceptance by the commission is limited in scope to dedications such as easements or rights of way. Neighbors and neighborhood advocates urged the commission to deny the dedications or delay action, saying the replat is the first step toward demolition or…